Charm the Geeks: An MFF Menage Romance

By Allyson Lindt

Jordan

Chloe and I are notorious in the gaming world. Each new trade show stunt—from a fake marriage proposal to taking overbearing corporate egos down a notch—keeps us the us in the spotlight.

When I’m arrested in front of the cameras for a crime I didn’t commit, my boss discards me in favor of the next bad boy (but not too bad). Turns out there is such a thing as bad publicity.

Chloe

In our private lives, Jordan and I are just trying to get by, like anyone who hit adulthood being famous for their tentacle art and slash fiction.

What would the public say if they knew their favorite naughty couple was vanilla in the bedroom? There are days I question if we deserve our reputation, and even more days where I wish we lived that life.

Liz

I should be content to be a modern day, corporate princess. My family name slips easily from tongues when people in this town talk about where the cash lives. But I’m desperate to define me.

Chloe and Jordan offer me a night of exploration for all three of us, and wow the memories.

But my name on top of theirs makes a feeding frenzy for the sharks. After all, in a world where scandal sells more advertising space than innovation, three people can’t have a private happily ever after.

Author’s Note: This book was previously released as The Geeks and The Socialite. It contains three people discovering who they are both in front of and behind the cameras. It’s an FFM romance with all sorts of pairings—MF, FFM, and FF.

Other Books By Allyson Lindt
Valkyrie's Legacy Series (Urban Fantasy)
Valkyrie Reborn
Valkyrie Hunted
Valkyrie Concealed
Valkyrie Crowned

Three Player Co-op (Ménage Romance)
Looking For It
Waiting For It
Asking For It
Running For It
Fighting For It

Game for Cookies Series (Ménage Romance)
Seduction Games
Control Games

Two Plus One (Ménage Romance)
Their Nerd
Their Matchmaker

3d20 Series (Ménage Romance)
Roll Against Trust
Roll Against Regret
Roll Against Discovery
Roll Against Betrayal

Subscribe, Live, Love Series (Ménage Romance)
Red Hunted
Red Consumed
Beauty Claimed
Beauty Awakened

Ubiquity Series (Urban Fantasy Reverse Harem)
Seductive Soul
Soul Reaper
Soul Betrayer

Truth's Harem Series (Urban Fantasy Reverse Harem)
Fate's Illusion
Innovation's Muse
Apathy's Hero

Ridden Hard (M/F Contemporary Romance)
Hard Flip
Hard Pack
Riding the Wave
Drive Me Wild

Love Equation (Contemporary Romance)
Rival
Regret
Restraint

Love Games (M/F Contemporary Romance)
His Reputation
Her Airman
His Cosplayer

Love Hack (M/F Contemporary Romance)
His Hacker
His Infatuation
Her Surrender

Hacking Wonderland (Suspense)
Reagan through the Looking Glass
The Hatter and the Hare
Painting the Roses Red
Reigning Hearts

Null Equation (Dystopian Romance)
Over Exposed
Over Stimulated
Over Shared

Stand Alone Titles
Seeking More (M/F New Adult Romance)
Destined for Temptation (Paranormal Romance)

• Language: English
• Publisher: Acelette Press
• Release date: May 24, 2021
• ISBN: 9781949986983

Allyson Lindt

USA Today Bestselling Author Allyson Lindt is a full-time geek and a fuller-time author. She likes her stories with sweet geekiness and heavy spice, and loves a sexy happily-ever-after. Because cubicle dwellers need love too. Her #GeekLove Contemporary and Ménage Romance books all take place in the same contemporary world. While each series stands on its own, readers' favorite characters, businesses, and places make appearances in other series. You can connect with Allyson at her website: http://www.allysonlindt.co/ Read all of her books to see why A Lust for Reading said her books made them "smile and literally laugh out loud", Revenge of the Feels loved the sizzling attraction, ...danger, betrayal and humor" and readers call them "book nirvana","geek hotness", "sexy" and "fast paced".

Book preview

ONE

Jordan

If a picture was worth a thousand words, any image of Chloe was worth at least double that. I couldn’t take my eyes off her, as she worked at the desk in our hotel suit.

Her hair was swept into the same messy braid she put in before we got on the plane from Salt Lake to L.A. this morning, and loose black tendrils with blond roots curled around her long neck.

She was one of my favorite subjects to draw, and had been since I first met her, more than a decade ago. Smutty fan art didn’t hold a candle to her in any way.

A knot formed in my chest at the thought. We needed to fix things on this trip. Whatever else happened—business, pleasure, sight-seeing—she and I needed to fix whatever the rift was between us.

If you draw a picture, it’ll last longer. She didn’t look up from the last-minute prep she was doing on her laptop, but teasing lay under her words.

That was a better response than I expected. I’d take it. I thought you liked to be watched. I’d keep the mood light as long as I could.

She’d seemed… off since we left the apartment this morning. Not angry, but not quite here. I do, I’m just…

Then again, it felt like that more and more in recent months. We’d been dating for more than ten years, and coming here to E3—one of the largest trade shows in the world for video game companies—for almost as long.

But this was the first year Chloe and I were falling apart.

Or maybe we’d never noticed the cracks in our foundation before.

I wouldn’t—couldn’t—believe that. What’s on your mind? I crossed the room to brush her hair aside and dance my fingers up her neck.

Even though this trip was business, we’d agreed that while we were here, we’d take a little time for ourselves, to figure out where we wanted to go next as a couple. Even a hint that I might lose her hurt like fuck, but that hadn’t brought me any closer to figuring out what was at the heart of one spat after another.

Maybe she was just sick of my putting the toilet paper on the roll in the wrong direction, but I suspected there was more to it.

She leaned into my touch with a light sigh, tilting her head enough that I saw a ghost of a smile on her gorgeous lips. Nothing’s wrong. But everything is. I can’t stop thinking about this weekend, running it all through my head, looking for possible failure points and figuring out what we need to do, to fix them. There’s just too much—

Stop, I said kindly. This was a tension I could deal with. We’ve got this. We always have this. No one is better at this than you and me.

This show was a huge deal for any videogame company, but Rinslet Enterprises had turned it into a ritual. Chloe and I had turned it into a ritual.

Years ago, when our employer had a different company name, a presentation gone bad led to a hostile takeover that cost us our flagship game and intellectual property.

The company owners rebuilt from the ground up, taking those of us with them who were loyal to the people, not the money. The next year, Chloe and I spoofed the failed presentation here, as a way to announce to the world that Rinslet was back and better than ever.

Every year since then, we were expected to have a better showing than the year before. We tried to ease off a few times, but the industry wasn’t having it.

It was our time to deliver again. Chloe and I would be in the spotlight and reminding the world how epic our titles were. Our presentation was solid and rehearsed dozens of times. Stressing about it now wouldn’t make the demo go more smoothly.

I wouldn’t tell Chloe, Chill, we’ve got this, but I was happy to distract her. I dipped my head and kissed along the soft skin of her neck, loving the way her chest heaved with a sudden breath. The faint honey scent of her shampoo teased my thoughts.

I know the perfect way to take your mind off things, I murmured against her skin.

Her soft moan and the curve of her neck when she leaned into my touch made my blood roar with anticipation and tugged at my cock.

What did you have in mind? she asked breathlessly.

So many things. Words were her medium, mine was the visual, but I could dabble enough to draw her into a fantasy. A little verbal foreplay with some interactive teasing.

What do you think of the new sales rep at DM? As I spoke, I nibbled on her earlobe.

Most people wouldn’t open a seduction talking about someone else, but some of our favorite fantasies involved a third person in bed with us. We’d never done it. Unlike our public personas—unlike most of the people we’d worked with from the start—we’d only ever been with each other, but the verbal play made for a fun alternate universe.

Can’t say I’ve talked to him long enough to form an opinion. Her tone was light and playful, but her words implied her mind was still working.

I gilded my fingers along her collarbone, to dip and tease between her breasts. He’s handsome. Kind of cocky, but I bet he’s half-talk.

Rumor is he’s coming off a bad divorce. Chloe’s response wasn’t as enthusiastic as I’d hoped for.

I wasn’t giving up, though. Desire coursed through me every time I touched her. Heard her voice. Tasted her. At least one of us was distracted. Which means he’s single, I said.

Yeah, but I’m not. She pulled away from me.

One of the little hearts on my mental life bar flickered and vanished. I kept my hand on her shoulder, trailing my thumb over the exposed skin. Of course not. You and me, forever.

She stood and turned to face me, breaking all contact between us. She crossed her arms and settled her butt on the hotel desk. "I’m just wondering if you were thinking we—you and I—might have sex… oh, any time in the near future, without your needing to think about another person in order to get off."

—the fuck? I stared at her in disbelief and raced to catch up with the accusation. Why was she putting this entire thing on me? We’d both always been willing participants in the let’s-share-with-someone-else fantasy. Unless she’d been lying about it all this time. You know I’m here with you. I couldn’t unclench my jaw when I spoke

Do I?

Seriously? Where the hell is this coming from? I was fine with talking through our problems, but an accusation out of left field? No.

Chloe dragged her fingers through her hair, growling when they snagged on her braid. I don’t know. It’s been there for a while.

Wonderful. How long was for a while? At least this argument was different from any other we had. You should’ve said something.

"Maybe I didn’t think I should have to. Why would this be okay?"

This—my being expected to read her mind—wasn’t okay in any way. Because you’ve said it is. Over and over, for years, you’ve said you enjoy the naughtiness in the daydream.

What if I want something else?

"Then tell me."

What if it’s boring and simple? What if it’s something like the two of us, being here with each other and without needing external stimulus? Or what if it’s that I’m tired of pretending that my boyfriend, Mr. Master-of-Tentacle-Porn, is anyone other than a guy who’s ever only seen one pair of tits in person?

I ground my teeth so hard, I felt it in my ears. That was hitting below the belt. And two completely contradictory statements. Did she want more kink or less? I was slipping from where did this come from to what the hell are we talking about real fast. Sorry to be so hands-on boring. Which do you want? Sex that’s just us, or something wild and crazy and real-life kinky?

I don’t know. Her sigh radiated frustration and mingled with mine. I just know what we’re doing now isn’t working. She brushed past me.

I grabbed her arm and forced her to face me. We don’t walk away from each other. Not like this. We talk things through.

Except, apparently, what we actually did was pretend to talk things through, leaving me thinking everything was fine while Chloe let the wound fester.

"Talking is all we do. We talk and talk and talk and talk," she said.

And fuck. And have fun. And enjoy each other’s company. And make an amazing team. How is that not enough for you?

She yanked away from me. It’s not. I’m sorry, but… I can’t be here right now.

My fingers, and I barely checked the desire to say anything to have the last word. I didn’t have a response. Which issue she brought up was the one I needed to focus on?

The door closed, closing me off from her.

She’d never done that before. Neither of us had ever walked away in the middle of a disagreement.

Fuuuuuuuck. The scream echoed in my head, clawing to be released.

This’d give people something to talk about, when it came to Rinslet and E3.

Media Darlings Jordan and Chloe Finished?

Chloe couldn’t write a more viral headline than that.

TWO

Chloe

If I didn’t wipe away the tears soon, they’d start falling down my cheeks, instead of just blurring my view of the liquor on the shelves behind the bar.

I hadn’t wanted to pick a fight with Jordan, but once I started talking, the words just fell out. He must think I was nuts, going from zero to pissed in seconds, about the things I did. We were both a little odd, anyway, but we were each other’s kind of weird. He was the ham to my pineapple.

This swallow of cranberry juice didn’t burn my raw throat as much as the last one. I rarely drank, but, if I asked the bartender to add vodka to this, how long until I was numb?

I’d been trying to figure out for a while now what was bothering me. Yes, we were in high-stress jobs, but they were our dream jobs. We’d come into these positions—Jordan with the visuals and me with the story writing—when we were barely more than kids. Even with the fresh talent, we were still two of the youngest in the group.

We’d shaped these positions. We had each other. We had most everything we wanted. Life was incredible.

And I was still unhappy. Still missing something. Did I feel a lot guilty and entitled? Yeah. Did that eliminate the dissatisfaction? Nope.

Then Jordan started into that familiar path of fantasy. One we took so often. And his words drilled straight to my insecurities—a set of contradictions I never had to vocalize but that, today, became vivid and real.

Jordan and I were talk. So much talk. We joked about gang-bangs and tentacles and tails and knotting… Then we went home with each other, and the most risqué thing we ever did was a little light spanking. Flat palm. Nothing more. I didn’t know which one bothered me more—that we were all talk, or that it sometimes didn’t seem like we could have sex without it.

Was I unhappy that we were boring in the bedroom, or was I terrified that he thought so too and he’d leave me for someone more adventurous?

That last fear was unfounded. When I thought about it, I knew Jordan and I were good together. The fear still existed.

And instead of talking it through with him, I’d stormed away, wrapped in confusion and hurt, and most likely leaving Jordan wondering what the fuck just happened.

If this were a character arc in a game, I’d have known how to resolve the angst before I ever wrote a single word of it.

Too bad life wasn’t that simple.

The bar was getting noisy, and I wasn’t in the mood to listen to the happy chatter, planning, and speculation about the show tomorrow. I should either find someplace else to clear my head or go back upstairs and… What?

I couldn’t face Jordan yet, as much as I needed to. I didn’t have any idea how to put my thoughts into words, without them sounding stupid. Words were supposed to be my bitch, damn it.

Someone took the stool next to me, and I didn’t even twitch in their direction. Most everyone here recognized me, but if I kept my head down and pretended I was busy with my phone, they left me alone.

Are you all right? A woman’s voice disrupted my rambling journey through woe-is-me-dom.

I looked up, to find a pair of gorgeous blue eyes watching me. Her hair was a stunning shade of violet that couldn’t be natural anywhere but in an anime, but that didn’t distract from her face. Kind. Concerned. Pretty. And a quick glance down at the school-girl costume said she was a fellow short-girl.

Did I want to run my fingers through her smooth, purple locks, or lock lips and find out what flavor wine she was drinking? And I shouldn’t be fantasizing about other people while I was stressing about my relationship with Jordan and had just fought with him over the same.

I’m dandy. The sarcastic retort tried to force its way to my lips. I’m sitting out here, because my boyfriend and I are fighting over you. Well, not you specifically, but the concept of lusting after people who aren’t us. How fucked up is that? I’m good.

If you’re sure… She fiddled with her wine glass. Even in the dimly lit bar, she looked immaculate, wearing a costume made of far nicer fabric than a costume should be. The outfit plus the small purse that hung from her wrist probably cost more than my entire T-shirt collection.

If she was here with the E3 group, which the costume implied, she worked for a company in such a different realm than Rinslet, we’d probably never touch them.

I’m Liz, by the way. I’m not here to crash your night, but—she gazed around the room—I thought I was in the mood for company, and I’m not.

If I stared at her much longer, I was going to make things awkward. "Chloe. And I get it. You don’t want to go back to your room, but you don’t want to have to talk to anyone, and if you’re down here by yourself, people will approach you."

Liz’s smile—perfectly shaped white teeth against the exact right shade of miraculously unsmudged lipstick—was a startling blend of sexy-sweet and adorable. Exactly. But people are steering clear of you, and I can’t figure out why. You’re cute.

My cheeks heated. When was the last time such a simple compliment caught me off guard? When was the last time I got one that sounded this kind of sincere? I’m also scowling. And most of these people see me as one of the boys.

The reality of my reply soured in my gut. Liz was adorable and just enough out of place that people wouldn’t leave her alone if she was alone. I was the scowling tomboy in the corner, making a glass of cranberry juice last longer than God ever intended.

I see. Liz fiddled with her left ring finger, twisting, though there was no jewelry. Do you mind if I sit here anyway? We don’t have to talk, but if you want to, I’m happy to listen. You look like maybe you could use a friend.

I had friends—an office full of guys who got my quirks and loved gaming as much as I did. And who were also Jordan’s friends. Because my job at Rinslet was my adult life. Even my sister was married to one of the big bosses. Was I anyone without my job?

The last thing I needed was another sad path to diverge onto. Not sure I’ve got much to say, but you’re still welcome to join me.

"Do you want another drink? God, that sounds like I’m hitting on you. I just noticed you made that glass a while."

How long had she been watching me? And why did that intrigue me? I was attracted to both men and women. So was Jordan. But we’d been each other’s first real anything—yeah, the geeky fanfic kids who wrote and drew smut but had never even kissed anyone else.

Great. Now I was thinking about regret and missed opportunities again and wondering if I was holding Jordan back from the same.

They don’t have anything on tap that I like. My red of choice is fizzy and full of sugar, and comes in twelve-ounce cans. If I was going to talk to her, I needed to talk to her and not to myself, in my own head.

They’re all out of Code Red? Inconceivable. Liz’s wink and accompanying smirk were enough to make me smile. She waved the bartender over. Another glass of the house red for me.

Ah, fuck it. If I was in a slump, the best way to get out was to do things I didn’t normally do. I think I’ll have the same. Maybe it would knock loose whatever was stuck in my head, or clear out the stubbornness keeping me from going back upstairs, or a least get me drunk enough I didn’t care.

Seconds later, two glasses were placed in front of us. What came next? I felt like a little girl, completely out of my element. An attractive, confident woman sat next to me and was chatting me up as if this were the most natural thing in the world.

And I didn’t know if I wanted to accept her offer of friendship or find out if girls really did kiss differently than guys.

Instead of either, I sipped my drink slowly, not daring to make eye-contact as I racked my brain for words.

Jordan and I had actually discussed several times that we’d be okay if one of us wanted to be with another person, if the opportunity arose. Testing that right after a fight didn’t seem like a good idea, though.

Are you here with them, then? Liz’s question startled me. You said most of these people recognize you, but I apologize that I don’t. I’m new to the industry. Are you one of the voice actors or a developer or…?

At least she didn’t assume I was a booth babe. Not that I was nearly tall or coordinated enough for that. I’m Senior Vice President of Community and Writing for Rinslet Enterprises.

"Wow. Liz’s surprise sounded genuine. They make a lot of games."

Was I grateful or just a little wounded that she didn’t recognize my name and title? Was I trying to impress her? Definitely. And my people are the reason those games have award-winning storylines.

I didn’t realize.

It’s okay. I can’t tell you who the rock stars of the investment world are, either. It had taken me a little bit, but the pieces fit now. She was money, trying to fit into a group where only the higher ups cared about those things. Gaming might look like a bunch of trolls living in basements to the outside world, but big banks loved the right companies.

I took a sip of my wine. It was sweeter than I expected. Pleasant. I drained the glass before I realized what I was doing.

My brother-in-law owns half the company, which has everything and nothing to do with why we’re here. Why did I say that? She might not have recognized my name, but she’d know Zach’s. Those same banks hated the gate our owners used to keep out investors.

Oh. Liz’s enthusiasm vanished in a flash. You work for family.

Defensiveness spilled through me. I’d earned my job. Insecurities played no part here; I was in this position because I was the best at what I did, regardless of what rumors said. It’s not favoritism.

What? No, I didn’t mean that at all. I bet you’re crazy talented, but working for family can be complicated.

Her rush to set things right warmed my cheeks. Or was that the wine? He’s been my boss longer than he’s been part of the family. And I don’t even report to him. I’d always worked for Scott, Zach’s business partner, but I’d still spent most of my career proving that I had my job because I could do it, and not because I’d begged Zach for it.

Then never mind my warning. Liz finished her drink.

"You can’t just say never mind after something like that." Was I relaxing and enjoying this, despite the bumps and my mood? It might be that one tiny glass of wine, but it felt like more than that. It felt good to connect with someone who was talking to me just because. Now you have to explain.

Liz shook her head, but she was smiling as she waved the bartender over. More? She nodded at my empty glass.

Sure. Why the fuck not?

At Liz’s prompting, possibly thanks in part to the extra twenty she slid across the bar, our glasses were filled almost to the top this time, and we were left alone.

She took a long sip of her drink, leaving a shine on her lips that I wanted to lean in and lick away. At least my imagination still worked. I shifted in my seat, and my head floated and bobbed. Had I